News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(September 27, 2023) 

Here's what's new in Carrboro: Get all the details on the Carrboro Music Festival happening this Sunday (with a kickoff on Saturday at the Cat's Cradle)! Don't miss out on your chance to be part of the unique community campaign for discounted solar. FYI, the Bolin Creek Greenway survey closes early next week. Check it all out in this issue! 

Carrboro Music Festival to feature 100 shows on Sunday, Oct. 1

On Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, the Carrboro Music Festival will host 100 acts all over Carrboro, all for free. 

One of the largest free music festivals in North Carolina, the festival marks its 26th year. Established in 1998, the festival was originally held on June 21 as an official affiliate of the Fête de la Musique, which is also known as 'Make Music Day'. 

A free show will kick off the Carrboro Music Festival at the Cat’s Cradle backroom on Saturday, Sept. 30 featuring TRUTH CLUB. No tickets are required and all shows are free! 

Get the complete list of shows at the festival website or download the festival app. DON’T MISS the hip-hop show beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Cat’s Cradle backroom featuring 14 bands! 

The Bazaar will also be underway from 1 to 7 p.m. at Town Commons, 301 W. Main St., along with non-profit groups, craft vendors, and food vendors. 

This year, the Carrboro Music Festival is featuring free educational workshops starting at 10 a.m. at the Century Center and other locations! These include learning about synthesizers, recording, accordions and more! (some workshops require registration and have limited availability). For more information and to register, please go to https://register1.vermontsystems.com/wbwsc/nccarrboro.wsc/splash.html and look under "Special Events". If you don't have an account, you will need to create one before registering.

Quick links for more information:

• To see the music lineup, visit www.carrboromusicfestival.com.  A festival guide and map will be available soon, along with a sortable Excel database to search bands by name, genre, location, and time.  Any changes that occur after the Festival Guide & Map is published will be reflected on the Excel file.  
• Download the Carrboro Music Festival phone app.!  The phone app. will be a standalone app. available by searching 'Carrboro Music Festival' in your phone's app. store.  
• FREE park & ride shuttle from the Jones Ferry Road Lot. See the Festival Shuttle Map at http://carrboromusicfestival.com/DocumentCenter/View/1493/2022-Carrboro-Music-Festival-Shuttle-Map
• There will be limited public parking. Please check the parking map at http://www.carrboronc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11225/Carrboro-Parking-Map

Read more information about the 2023 Carrboro Music Festival.

Just a few more days to take the Bolin Creek Greenway survey!

Which way for the greenway? The Town of Carrboro needs your help with a survey about the remaining phases of the Bolin Creek Greenway. Mayor Damon Seils says that your input at this early stage will help the Town plan and design, address engineering and environmental details, and secure federal funding and other grants to make the project a reality. As you respond to the survey, think about how you and your friends use the greenways in Carrboro and Chapel Hill today. How do you envision using them in the future? 

Take the Bolin Creek Greenway Survey today. 

For more information, contact the staff team at communications@carrboronc.gov 

Town Council Update 

Meeting agendas and updates are issued from the Town Clerk’s Office. To receive these by email or text, sign up for Carrboro Town News at https://www.carrboronc.gov/list.aspx 

Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views, and questions at Council@carrboronc.gov

Coming Up
The Carrboro Town Council will hold a Council Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. The agenda will be available at  https://carrboro.legistar.com 

The Town Council meets at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/ OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro). 

Meeting Recap 
The Council held a Council Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26 2023.  Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/live/MbIiTYzy8VI?si=MiXL3LG-Bty71vex

Meeting Recap 
The Council held a Council Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, and took the following actions: 

• Appointed Lori McLamb and Justin Frye to the Greenways Commission and Huru Price to the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority.  
• Authorized the Town Manager to execute a contract for the site assessment of identified town-owned land for possible affordable housing use.
• Adopted a capital improvement project ordinance for the Town’s participation in the construction of three signalized pedestrian crossings along NC 54. 
• Adopted a grant project ordinance for the Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Grant.
• Approved a planning grant application to the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments.
• Set a public hearing for Oct. 24, 2023, to consider a text amendment to the Land Use Ordinance relating to residential density in a Planned Unit Development.
• Adopted the proposed changes to the Town of Carrboro Position Classification and Pay Plan to align job two titles and positions with the needs of the organization.
• Authorized the submittal of a T-Mobile grant application. If awarded, the funds will be used to refresh various critical public Wi-Fi infrastructure allowing for Wi-Fi 6/6E connectivity which offers greater bandwidth, higher speeds, and supports a greater number of Wi-Fi users.
• Approved the revised Westwood Cemetery Master Plan to incorporate cemetery improvements, additional areas for burial plots, diversified internment options, and undeveloped greenspace.
• Received a presentation of staff findings on potential code amendments for banning gas-powered landscape equipment in Carrboro to reduce environmental and noise pollution.

Find more in the agenda at https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1109794&GUID=F557B9DC-53C0-4255-A403-A980AE7BA60F&Options=info|&Search=

Watch the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/live/aQkTZ1dznN8?si=Kz9ihrJd6Nofp8xK 

Town Council 
The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Damon Seils, Mayor Pro Tempore Susan Romaine, Council Member Barbara Foushee, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Danny Nowell, Council Member Eliazar Posada, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at https://www.carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council

Annual Africa Fest Comes to Carrboro

The African Studies Center at UNC-Chapel Hill will hold its third Africa Fest on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, from noon to 2 p.m. in collaboration with Weaver Street Market and the Town of Carrboro.

Africa Fest is a celebration of African culture, art, and history. This family event offers an annual immersive opportunity to engage with the rich contemporary cultures of the continent.

This annual event focuses on sharing culture, fostering unity, and celebrating the beauty of diversity. We hope that it will empower our community to celebrate and learn while gaining an enduring appreciation for diversity and inclusivity.

Opening remark by Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils. Food by Weaver Street Market!

Check out Golden Fig next door for bestselling African books.

Learn more at https://africafest.unc.edu

Don't miss the deadline to sign up for Solarize the Triangle

We are thrilled to announce that we have reached the lowest price tier possible for our group purchase campaign! 80+ neighbors have already gone solar with Solarize the Triangle '23. And, lots more are in the works! 

Don't miss out on your chance to be part of the unique community campaign for discounted solar. Lock in the price by signing up for a no obligation solar evaluation at www.SolarizeTheTriangle.com before the Sept. 30 deadline.

Planning Department to Host Open Houses

Throughout the next month, the Carrboro Planning, Zoning, & Inspections Department (PZI) will be hosting a series of Open Houses for Carrboro residents:

• Monday, October 2: 6 - 8 p.m. at Carrboro Town Hall
• Saturday, October 7:  7 a.m. -12 p.m. at the Farmers’ Market 

We will be talking about:

• Residential and Neighborhood Parking Maximums (Upcoming Town Council Public Hearing – Oct 24)
• Comprehensive Plan & Implementation
• Climate Action
• Opportunities to join the Solarize the Triangle ’23 Campaign
• Composting Program and Food Waste
• Carrboro Transportation Planning
• Public Transit Accessibility
• Infrastructure Projects
• Development Review
• Volunteer opportunities

We would love to chat with you about how these upcoming topics, opportunities, and changes may relate to you and answer any questions you have for planning staff.

Save the Date: Good Neighbor Initiative Community Cookout

You're invited to the Good Neighbor Initiative Community Cookout, an annual community event and opportunity to build strong, healthy connections between student and non-student residents of neighborhoods surrounding downtown Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC-Chapel Hill. Join us at Hargraves Community Center (216 N. Roberson St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 ) on Thursday, Sept. 28  at 5:30 p.m.

The event is FREE and open to everyone. There will be FREE FOOD including Al's Burger Shack and Ben & Jerry's, music, and games for all ages.

This event is sponsored by the Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro, UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Off-Campus Student Life, The Jackson Center, Empowerment, Inc., the Downtown Partnership and many others.

Tampering with Political Campaign Signs Is a Crime

The public is reminded that anyone who knowingly removes, alters, or defaces a campaign sign is guilty of a crime. It is a misdemeanor for a person to steal, deface, vandalize, or unlawfully remove a political sign that is lawfully placed. 

 Those running for elected offices deserve the opportunity to display campaign signs in a legal manner without fear of damage or theft.

 The Carrboro Police Department encourages anyone who sees someone tampering with political signs, or has information regarding individuals who have stolen or defaced campaign signs, to contact 911 to file a report.

Racial Equity Index for Orange County Now Available

A dashboard showing at-a-glance views of racial equity within Orange County is now available. 

The dashboard will be used by the four jurisdictions in Orange County in their work to move the community toward increased equity. Information from the dashboard can be used to provide awareness, track disparity, or inform strategies, grant applications or service provision. It contains statistics on public health, education and economic opportunity as well as those related to living conditions, infrastructure and voting. 

The dashboard is now available on the Town of Carrboro's Race and Equity webpage and on the websites of each of the other jurisdictions.

More information

In early 2022, leaders of the four jurisdictions approved a racial equity framework to be used in developing racial equity plans for each jurisdiction. The framework — One Orange Countywide Racial Equity Framework: Catalyst for Moving Forward — uses methodology of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, a national network of government agencies working to advance racial equity. The framework centers on five major parts:

• Training
• Community engagement
• Racial equity index
• Racial equity assessment lens
• Evaluation and accountability

A multi-jurisdictional team from Orange County and the towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough continues to work together. 

Learn more about the Town of Carrboro's efforts to advance racial equity.

Click the above image to view our Monthly Events Newsletter and discover all of the exciting programs and special events that are coming up! Registration for our fall programs is underway. 

Fall Registration Open for Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources 

The Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department’s Fall program brochure is now available! Click the image above to learn more.

This includes registration for Youth Basketball and registration for Zumba on Thursdays with Heidi White, a new instructor. Click the image below to register!

Put your ideas into action! Apply to serve the Town of Carrboro

The Town of Carrboro is seeking volunteers to provide a fresh perspective on important local issues.

Carrboro local government has various advisory boards and commissions that advise the Town Council on a wide range of issues. We are currently looking to fill vacancies!

When you serve, you become an advocate for the Town of Carrboro, provide feedback to the Council, and help strengthen the community with your unique perspective. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people as you put your ideas into action.

Learn more about the openings available.

Frances Shetley Bikeway gets a facelift 

Ooh-la-la! Carrboro's Frances Shetley Bikeway is looking smooth and pretty after recent repaving work! 

Did you know?  The Town of Carrboro maintains 47.04 miles of roadways comprising of 566 street segments or blocks, 41 miles of sidewalks, and 872 curb ramps throughout the community. The 2023 Street Resurfacing Project is intended to keep streets and curb ramps safe and in good condition for all users, and to make improvements strategically and efficiently to ensure safer and longer-lasting streets and curbs.

More information is available at https://www.carrboronc.gov/2675/2023-Street-Resurfacing-Project

Questions? Please contact the Carrboro Public Works Department at (919) 918-7425 or email pworks@townofcarrboro.org.